Sunday 24 August 2014

Painted Furniture and Decoupaged Mannequins

My little summer break from my blog is over. I've painted a whole bunch of items. This one I was very pleased with, made from reclaimed pine and painted with Annie Sloan Old White and Duck Egg Blue, stencils are ones from Jamie at Home and meant for use on cakes!


Inside painted and finished with some scraps of modern wallpaper. 


I Fell in love with some wonderful fabric by STOF bought from Mill Shop on Line French Linen well worth the £19.50 per metre. That works out at about £5 a chair, but it makes your item look a 1million $. The ribbon was left over from the last mannequin.
 


Another STOF fabric for six chairs ,that have taken forever, as there were over 800 staples to remove. One had 20 staples on each corner to hold the fabric down. I could only cope with one chair seat a day. Then the chair frames had to be repaired, new stretcher bars, missing wood filled, joints redone on all of them. Phew, then I have had to do two coats of paint on very fiddly carved fiddle backs. Just a lime wash and waxing to do. Nearly there now be finished by next week. 


I worked really hard on this chest of drawers for my Granddaughters 19th birthday. Annie Sloan Graphite and red car spray paint, over a net curtain. Dark wax, new handles from ebay.


We all loved the effect and I'm going to do some more, having learned a lot this time.


Two new mannequins, ebay what would I do with out you? This one has London Scenes and French Script and roses paper napkins.

She's still a bit naked here. I'm using a handy pasta dish to soak the Victorian paper in to make it more pliable. Very difficult around the bust to get a neat finish.


Here she is with her bodice all neatly done. The other mannequin has a different napkin and will have black veil lace from the Victorian era as a costume.


Just the fancy ribbons and bows to do now.


Lots been happening, on 1st September I shall be opening a 1/2 unit at at Bocking Antiques Centre selling my painted furniture, mannequins and an eclectic selection of vintage goodies. This a a fairly new centre, been open just over a year and has a younger feeling than some antique centres. There is another furniture painter there already who does younger style items so hopefully we will compliment each other and I will sell some things!

I've missed my weekly visit to all the lovely blogs. So now off to Hand Made Monday  on Hand Made Harbour.

10 comments:

  1. You are doing Amazingly Well Joan - Very Best Wishes for your new Venture - I adore the pieces I have bought from you - Many Thanks

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    1. Thank you Cherry, super friend and fab artist!!!

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  2. You sound as though you are very busy and your french fabric stool and mannequins are wonderful - although I seem to love everything you make! Good luck with the unit - very exciting venture!

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  3. What fabulous makes. I love the mannequins and the covered stool. Good luck with your new venture. Xx

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  4. Crikey you have been busy, not sure which is my favourite....I think it has to be the chest of draws for your granddaughter:)

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  5. Wow, you have been very busy.

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  6. Love the pine cupboard it looks fabulous, and finished off beautifully with the wallpaper inside.
    The mannequins look pretty tricky to work on. Where do you source them from?
    I look forward to seeing more of your furniture pieces, and good luck at the antique centre x

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    1. Hi thanks for your good wishes! I usually get the mannequins from my local auction, but lately prices have been high so for these two I resorted to ebay. Luckily they were not too far from my house so I managed to collect and save on delivery.

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  7. Some beautiful projects, I particularly like the mannequins.

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  8. Joan these are great.
    the chairs are beautiful, the chest of drawers really caught my eye, and the mannequins are fabulous!
    congratulations on your new shop. i wish you much success . . . you have been busy, get ready to be busier . . .

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Your comments are all read and appreciated. Hope you will forgive me if I miss commenting on your comment, I will be busy doing art :-) x Joan